CDR Insight Quarterly – Q1 2013

Independent consultancy, Car Design Research's 'Insight Quarterly' looks at the latest trends in the automotive design world and beyond, four times each year. Currently distributed to a handful of their design contacts in the industry, we'll be running these quarterlies to highlight the latest trends and insights from a firm who work regularly and closely with the design groups of many major OEMs.

In this year's first Insight Quarterly, the team highlight the notion of 'designing for export'. The new Maserati Quattroporte and Range Rover are prime examples of premium cars designed for markets far from the homelands that heavily influenced their original designs.

In small car segments, downsizing is de rigueur yet the latest generations of cars such as the Range Rover, Maserati Quattroporte and Porsche 911 are the largest they've ever been.

Their original designs were the result of quite locally specific requirements; seeing over the hedgerow of a British country lane, taking all the family to the Riviera, enjoying the Black Forest's switchbacks. But their purposes have changed. Bought in greater number by customers in far-away markets, their makers are now explicitly designing for export.

Range Rover
Marginally larger than the car that went before, the new Range Rover's size growth expressly benefits rear seat space. Thank the growing chauffeur market, and customers in China and India who increasingly want to drive themselves, but still require large rear seat space to show respect and provide comfort to their clients, family and friends.

Quattroporte
Much the same is true of the new Maserati Quattroporte, whose wheelbase grows substantially over the previous version. Again rear seat passengers benefit as in order to grow its Maserati operations the Fiat group knows rear seat space is prioritized and valued in the key markets in which to do this.

911
The new Porsche 911 has grown into more of a full GT that arguably now looks and feels more at home on California's wide boulevards than it does in Stuttgart's city centre.

Paceman
The not-so-mini Mini Countryman has shown the breadth of the Mini brand. But the coupe-cum-crossover Paceman, derived from its SUV sister, continues that car's trend of feeling like a car with an entirely different remit to Issigonis's original that built its reputation on the tight British city streets.

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By Car Design Research